The Senate’s standing rules have been changed to allow for the formation of nine new committees.
The amendment further states that senators running for the office of Senate President or Deputy President must have served for at least one term.
The modification came after the plenary debate and passage of a motion on Tuesday.
Sen. Opeyemi Bamidela sponsored the motion titled “Amendment of the Senate Standing Orders Pursuant to Order 109 at the Senate Standing Orders, 2022 as Amended.”APC (Ekiti).
Mr. Opeyemi stated in his lead discussion that the Senate Standing Rule was revised on August 5 to allow for the formation of committees and other minor changes.
According to him, there are a number of concerns that require more revisions to allow for the formation of other senate committees.
This, he claimed, was in response to emerging changes that would improve procedural standards for sound legislative practice.
He stated that the changes made it necessary to amend the standing orders further to allow for the formation of more committees and to reflect their roles and jurisdictions in the orders.
He urges the Senate to study and accept the proposed revisions as it sees suitable.
Atomic and Nuclear Energy, which would oversee the Nigeria Nuclear Energy Regulatory Commission, the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission, and their yearly budget projections, are among the newly formed committees.
The FCT Committee will manage things pertaining to the FCT, as well as the Planning and Development of the new Federal Capital Territory, as well as the regulation of development inside the Federal Capital Territory and its annual budgets.
The Committee on FCT Area Councils will be in charge of the Area Council Mandate, the Area Council Service Commission, the Area Council Staff Pension Board, the Auditor-General for the Area Council, and any other FCT institution or department.
The Committee on Sports was divided into two standing committees, which are currently known as the Committee on Sports Development and the Committee on Youth and Community Engagements.
The Federal Ministry of Sport Development, National Lottery Commission, National Institute for Sports, Nigeria Football Federation, Sport Arena Development, national and international sporting activities, sports administration, and annual budget estimates will be represented on the Committee on Sports Development.
The Committee on Youth and Community Engagements will have jurisdiction over the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, the National Youth Service Corps, the Citizens and Leadership Training Centre, the Offices of the Senior Assistants to the President on Community Engagement in the six geopolitical zones, youth movements, activities, and associations, and its annual budget estimates.
The Committee on Solid Minerals, Steel Development, and Metallurgy was split into two committees: the Committee on Mines and Steel Development and the Committee on Solid Mineral Development.
The Committee on Solid Mineral Development “shall supervise the Federal Ministry of Solid Mineral Development, the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, the Mining Cadastre Office and the Council of Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geoscientists, the Nigerian Metallurgical Training Institute, the Solid Minerals Development Fund, the Nigeria Institute of Mining and Geoscience, the National Metallurgical Development Centre, mineral extraction and quarry exploration, geological survey, and mineral investigation.”
“While Committee on Mines and Steel Development shall oversee Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Aluminum Smelting Company of Nigeria, Ajaokuta Steel Development Company, National Iron Ore Mining Company, National Steel Raw Material Exploration Agency and their budgets.
Others are: the Committee on Tourism and Committee on Culture and Creative Economy.
Senate consequently directed the rules and business committee to reprint the senate standing orders with the new amendments.
NAN